Trump Administration’s ICE Raids in Schools Face Strong Opposition from Arizona’s Top Education Official

Republican Arizona Schools Chief Opposes Trump Administration’s Move to Arrest Undocumented Migrants in Schools

PHOENIX – Arizona’s top education official has expressed strong opposition to a new directive from the Trump administration that allows immigration authorities to target undocumented migrants in schools. Tom Horne, the state’s school superintendent, warned that this could create fear among parents and children, discouraging them from attending school. He emphasized that the children of undocumented immigrants are not to blame for their circumstances and that schools should remain safe spaces for all students.

Horne spoke to Capitol Media Services, sharing his concerns that the directive would harm education and cause unnecessary fear among families. “People would stop sending their kids to school,” Horne said, highlighting the potential consequences of such a policy. The directive, which was issued by acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Director Benjamine Huffman on Tuesday, has drawn significant criticism from educators and government officials alike.

A Shift in Immigration Enforcement Policy

In a move to strengthen immigration law enforcement, Huffman rescinded a 2021 policy from the Biden administration that had limited immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations” like schools, healthcare facilities, and churches. Under the new policy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will no longer be restricted from conducting raids at these locations. The Trump administration’s spokesperson emphasized that the goal of the directive was to ensure that criminals could not use schools and other sensitive areas to evade arrest.

This change comes at a time when the Trump administration is also pushing for a separate executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally. If passed, this order could further complicate the legal status of children in these families, potentially putting them at risk of arrest and deportation.

Despite the sweeping changes, Horne, who is a Republican like Trump, questioned whether immigration agents would actually show up at schools. He noted that if arrests are made, it would likely be parents, not the children themselves, who would be targeted. Horne expressed concern about the potential consequences but acknowledged that schools might not be able to stop ICE agents if they choose to act.

Legal Concerns and Constitutional Protections

Horne also raised significant legal concerns about the impact of this policy on education. He pointed to the landmark 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe, which ruled that children, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to a public education. The case stemmed from a Texas law that sought to deny public education to children who were not “legally admitted” into the U.S. The court ruled that such a law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees that no person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Horne emphasized that the new policy could undermine this ruling by creating an environment where immigrant children are afraid to attend school for fear of being targeted by ICE. “It’s not the children’s fault that they’re here,” Horne said. “They shouldn’t be punished for the actions of their parents.”

Political Pushback and State-Level Resistance

The response to the Trump administration’s directive has been mixed. Democratic officials, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, have spoken out against the idea of ICE agents operating on school campuses. Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for Mayes, stated that such raids would disrupt the work of educators and healthcare professionals while also instilling fear in children. Taylor emphasized that there are other ways to enforce immigration law without negatively impacting public institutions like schools.

Mayes has a history of challenging actions from the Trump administration that she believes are unconstitutional. Most recently, she joined other states in opposing the president’s directive to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. However, Taylor noted that Mayes might not pursue legal action against the new policy on ICE raids in schools unless the policy is enforced in ways that contradict existing laws.

The Supreme Court’s Role and Future Challenges

The debate over undocumented students’ rights to education is not new. In 2009, former Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce proposed a law that would require public schools to ask parents to provide proof of their children’s legal status in the country. Pearce’s proposal was aimed at gathering data to understand the financial burden on taxpayers of educating undocumented children. He also hoped that this data would eventually be used to challenge the Plyler v. Doe decision.

However, Pearce’s proposal was met with resistance and ultimately failed to pass. The Plyler v. Doe ruling continues to stand as a legal barrier to any efforts to exclude undocumented children from receiving a public education. Some Arizona lawmakers still seek to challenge this ruling, arguing that the financial burden of educating undocumented students is too great for the state to bear. However, the legal precedent set by the Supreme Court remains a powerful safeguard for the rights of all children to receive an education, regardless of their immigration status.

Potential Impact on Arizona Schools

The changes to immigration enforcement policies could have a significant impact on Arizona’s public schools. Teachers, administrators, and parents are uncertain about what steps they should take if ICE agents show up on school grounds. “First, consult with legal counsel before moving forward with anything,” said Taylor. “And schools should be communicating with parents about these possibilities.”

Despite the uncertainty, the overall consensus among Arizona officials is that school should be a safe place for all students, regardless of their immigration status. Schools play a critical role in fostering an environment of learning and support, and the fear of immigration enforcement could disrupt this mission.

Moving Forward: What’s Next for Arizona Schools?

The debate over ICE raids in schools is ongoing, and it is unclear how the new policy will be implemented or enforced in Arizona. Tom Horne, the state’s education chief, has pledged to continue fighting for the rights of undocumented children to receive a quality education. However, he acknowledged that there may be little that schools can do to prevent federal agents from entering their campuses if they choose to enforce the new directive.

As the situation unfolds, Arizona’s public schools, families, and lawmakers will need to stay vigilant and continue advocating for the rights of all students, regardless of their immigration status. The 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision remains a cornerstone of American education law, but the changing landscape of immigration policy may continue to pose challenges for schools, students, and communities across the state.

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